Top 10 Online Resources for Event Planners

Event planning used to be as simple as sending an invitation, setting out the appropriate tableware, and hiring a caterer. Today, the industry has morphed into one where anything goes!

Finding trustworthy online resources to help grow your event planning business can be complicated, and it is particularly difficult to find resources that are targeted towards industry professionals.

To cut down on the amount of clutter, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 online resources that event planners must have for 2017. From data-driven event metrics to must hear podcasts, it is guaranteed that you’ll find at least one resource to take your next event to the next level!

1. The Event Marketing Institute

The focus of the Event Marketing Institute is business marketing side of the event planning industry. Members of this group are provided access to the latest industry research, white papers, webinars, and the most recent industry forecasts.

In addition, members are also provided with discounts on online training, research services, and consulting. The membership option one chooses will dictate the benefits provided.

2. The Smart Event Marketing Playbook

Depending on the type of event one is planning, its event marketing campaign can make or break the event’s success. This eBook offers 27 pages of the best advice for event organizers of all skill levels.

The topics covered include content marketing, brand building, social media marketing, SEO, and PPC campaigns. The goal of this eBook is to equip event planners with the latest event marketing tactics.

3. BizBash

BizBash focuses on the day to day activities and logistics of being an event planner. The site’s focus is primarily instructional articles and how to guides.

The site enables users to narrow down to one of eighteen major metropolitan areas in order to target regional trends, ranging from venue selection to catering, and to provide a means of access to relevant venues and suppliers.

4. Bizzabo

Rather than being a media publication, Bizzabo is an event management software, accompanied by an excellent blog that offers editorial pieces and blogs for professional event planners. The site’s focus is primarily on technology for professionals that is geared towards management, as opposed to activation.

5. Twtvite.com

This quick and simple invite tool was built completely around Twitter. Although it does not offer long-term tools for event planning, it more than makes up for it through its incredible ease of use. It only takes a few minutes to create an event and provide all of the necessary information.

It’s easy to see who is planning on attending, RSVP to the occasion, and get the word out about your event through Twitter.

6. Google Alerts

Google Alerts is an excellent tool to use when you wish to keep abreast of industry news in real time. You can create a list of specific keywords, including hashtags, and Google will email you when new news articles or blogs are published with your chosen keywords.

In addition to recent happenings, it is a great tool for finding valuable, one-off articles on other sites.

7. Slideshare

Slideshare is a useful website that you must utilize if your event will involve presentations, particularly if it involves multiple presentations. After creating an account for the event, each presenter’s presentation can be added in one centralized location.

These groups of presentations are frequently featured on the home page of Slideshare.net, which increases the amount of exposure your event will receive. FAQ slide shows and marketing presentations can also be created to provide easy access for those who want to promote your event.

8. Google Maps

If the event you are planning is located in a city that is away from home for most of your attendees, or involves multiple venues, Google Maps will enable you to create a customized map that serves as a handy visual guide for useful addresses and places.

For those who are unfamiliar with the area or have concerns about it, like finding the right hotel, this can be an invaluable resource.

9. Meetup.com

This site was built for the purpose of helping individuals create offline, grassroots meetup groups. For a small annual fee, groups are provided with an excellent set of invite and community tools. Groups can be formed around almost any niche a person is interested in.

Users receive email notifications when a new group in their community is formed around a niche they have shown an interest in. If you are planning an event that will involve multiple meetings over the course of a year, this is an ideal tool to invest in.

10. Eventbrite.com

Eventbrite.com is probably the most popular event planning tool on the Internet. The site has developed a reputation for its intuitiveness, and its main management page list almost every resource one can think of.

This tool is particularly useful if you are managing multiple different events with multiple guest lists. One of the site’s most unique features is that it provides the setup for affiliate marketing opportunities, which enables others to promote your event while earning a bit of money at the same time.

The event planning industry is cutthroat, but having the right tools at your disposal can be what sets you apart from your competition. Do you have a favorite online event planning tool that we didn’t mention? Drop us a line in the comments section below and let us know!